AVO-8 first began way back in the mists … Read Full Bio ↴By Claire Gourlay of AVO-8.
AVO-8 first began way back in the mists of 1979. We are not too concerned about this incarnation, it will be enough to say that there was a single released on Stroppo Records in 1980 called "Gone Wrong" and that two of the protagonists were also involved in the AVO-8 we knew and loved more recently (Stephen Hastie & Kenny Gourlay).
In 1985, Stephen and Kenny got together again and decided to form the new improved AVO-8 with their respective partners, Jan Hastie and Claire Gourlay, and Jan’s brother, George Glen. Jan and Claire did the singing, Stephen did the guitar, George did the bass and Kenny did the drums.
Also involved were: Willie Allison who filled the roles of driver, sometime manager, and PA owner and operator; Eddie Roberston, roadie and generally all round good guy; and, Karen Trotman, lighting person and Claire’s sister and soon to marry George and become Jan’s sister in law. Confused yet? - you will be!
Our first gig was at Brando’s, the pub which we used as a meeting point before and after practice, which unfortunately doesn’t exist anymore. It was at Christmas 1985 and although we weren’t as tight as we could be it was absolutely brilliant.
During the next 5 years we did lots of gigs up and down the country as you’ll see from the gig list. Some of these were to large audiences and some small; there was even one memorable outdoor gig in Nairn where we played to a tiny group of people and a dog called James Dean. The fact that the wind was carrying our sound to a larger town several miles down the coast made up for the small local audience!
Life was made more difficult by the fact that we all had full time jobs to do during the day, but it was definitely worth it. People at work got used to us all turning up late with hangovers, blisters, sore throats etc and we got used to feeling that they were all boring and didn’t have half the excitement in their lives that we did!
We played very few songs written by other people (Last Train to Clarksville and Hang Onto Yourself being the only two we did regularly), so we spent a lot of time writing songs. Generally someone brought a nearly finished idea to the rest and we all worked on it together, so all songs are credited to everyone.
We released three singles, one on our own AVO label and two on Cherry Red. We decided to put out ‘Is This The End?’ on our own label because we didn’t have time ourselves to contact other labels. We didn’t have any real management at that time and all our time was spent working, gigging and writing. When we released ‘Is This The End?’ we did spend some time plugging it and luckily Andy Kershaw liked it, passed it on to Steve Wright and Liz Kershaw (who both played it) and gave us a Radio One session. The session was produced by Dale Griffin (ex Mott the Hoople drummer). This was especially exciting (and nerve wracking) for Kenny - playing drums in front of his hero!
After the session had aired we were contacted by management in London who took us on and then Cherry Red signed us and released two singles. We started getting more gigs down south and got on part of a tour with the Darling Buds, which was pretty good fun. We also met some strange people and autographed weird and wonderful parts of peoples bodies.
There is in existence a video EP which was made by Alistair Allison, Willy’s brother. It is extremely embarrassing to look back on now but at the time it was brilliant to make - lots of lip synching around the streets of Edinburgh and in our practice room. It includes ‘Is This The End?’ and ‘The Voice’ (which incidentally got a great review in a Greek fanzine). We also took part in a documentary for Edinburgh schools about the music business, which, in common with our own video, is extremely embarrassing to watch now but was great to do.
Unfortunately, things came to an end in early 1990 when we decided it wasn’t fun anymore. We thought it best to have good memories rather than carry on and start hating it, and each other. We formally disbanded at a party in Karen and George’s house and then we all got good and drunk.
The Voice
Avo-8 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you okay do you need help
Um it's voices
I'm sorry you're hearing voices
Voices inside of my head
Tell me that soon I will be dead
Soon I will take in my last breath
As I prepare to go meet death
To board the ride without a tour guide
A Bonnie with no Clyde a groom with no bride
Or a tomb to consume all of the doom that hope died
Voices inside of my head
Tell me that soon I will be dead
I pray for the future of my kids
And hope they don't fuck up like I did
Like when I hid oh yes I disappeared up off the grid
And then I did a 20-year bid
Of isolation for total concentration
So I could develop my musical creation
Creativity inspired by divinity and found in the vicinity of my trinity
So positively the positivity
Would fill me full of positive energy
And then I see the purpose that God has now given me
To stand up to all this negativity
Look evil in the eye and then prepare to die
Like the never-ending struggle of the Gemini
Good versus evil the neverending struggle of the Gemini
Voices inside of my head
Tell me that soon I will be dead
I'm not sure if there will be bloodshed
As I lay down on my deathbed
But click clock goes the Glock
And the trick is to talk
My way off the block without getting shot
But to my dismay the evil will not go away
And even though we try
That shit is here to stay
So hit replay cuz our cries don't go away
Nor the lies that we tell and try to sell that are so cliche
All the lies that we tell and try to sell that are so cliche
And as the time does slip away there's more and more I think to say
I need to write it all down with no delay
Need to pick up the pad and pen and write the words down again
And then find a sound that we could drown within
And now that our boat is capsizing
What are we to do as evil is rising
Prophecy prophesize looking evil in the eyes
As it wears a disguise which is no surprise
And so I try to tell the truth in the most absolute
And spread warning of the cause known as the root
Let me say it in a way that does compute
Take a pause and think before you shoot
Please take a pause and think before you shoot
Voices inside of my head tell me that soon I will be dead
Voices inside of my head warn me that soon I will be dead
And all these voices in my head keep telling me that I am dead
But I got so much to say that is still unsaid
So instead of some more bloodshed
Why don't we try to share and try to break bread
Let's drop all the hate and then try to be kind
What would Jesus do in your present state of mind
Well I think he'd be blind to all the evil you design
And then he'd help us find our way to the divine
But I've certainly lost my mind one or two times
So as I spit these rhymes I am guilty of some crime
I am guilty of these crimes and I am guilty of this sin
And I am guilty of losing this battle within
Where once again I learn my lesson
But I am only one out of 8 billion
You know like what the fuck can I do
I am only one out of 8 billion
Where you and your kin are drowning in sin
So I feel like Jesus with the Romans
Dude did you really just say that
I feel like Jesus with the Romans
Just a socialist liberal guy
Getting ready to die for you to crucify
And yes my time is coming soon so I am no longer immune
Against the force of a storm like a typhoon
Or monsoon of people marching to a tune
Of evil hatching from its cocoon
But wait a sec for the butterfly effect
And to every corner of the earth evil has crept
So all these voices in my head keep telling me that I am dead
In fact it's waiting for me just up ahead
My final test got to give it my best
As time and fate now lay me down to rest
Voices inside of my head
Tell me that soon I will be dead
Very soon my turn will be done
There's no replay and there is no rerun
Voices inside of my head
Tell me that soon I will be dead
I know too much and the powers that be
Will never let me fulfill my destiny
The powers that be will never let me
In Avo-8's song "The Voice," the lyrics depict the internal turmoil and struggle of the singer who is haunted by voices in their head foretelling their impending death. The eerie and foreboding atmosphere is set early on as the singer confesses to hearing these voices and feeling terrified at the thought of facing death alone, without guidance or companions. Through vivid imagery, the lyrics portray a sense of impending doom and the struggle to come to terms with mortality, likening it to a journey without a roadmap or a partner, emphasizing the feeling of loneliness and uncertainty.
The song delves into the singer's past struggles and regrets, particularly in relation to their children and the mistakes they have made. There is a sense of reflection and regret for past actions, as well as a yearning for redemption and a desire for their offspring to not repeat the same mistakes. The themes of isolation, self-discovery, and artistic expression are also explored, showcasing the singer's journey towards self-realization and creative fulfillment amidst personal and external challenges.
As the lyrics progress, there is a shift towards a more introspective and philosophical tone, with the singer grappling with the duality of good and evil within themselves and the world at large. The struggle between positivity and negativity, truth and lies, and the eternal battle between good and evil are examined through the lens of the singer's inner turmoil. The references to God, divinity, and the Gemini symbolize the constant internal conflict and the quest for balance and purpose in the face of adversity.
The closing verses of the song offer a poignant reflection on mortality, fate, and the inevitability of the singer's demise. Despite the overwhelming sense of impending death and the singer's awareness of the powers that be working against them, there is a plea for unity, forgiveness, and kindness in a world fraught with sin and discord. The singer's final realization of their own mortality and the acceptance of their fate serve as a powerful conclusion to a song that delves deep into the complexities of human existence, morality, and the search for meaning in the face of mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, what's going on
Seeking to understand the current situation
Are you okay do you need help
Expressing concern and offering assistance
Um it's voices
Acknowledging the presence of inner voices
I'm sorry you're hearing voices
Sympathizing with the experience of hearing voices
Voices inside of my head
Referring to the internal dialogues and thoughts
Tell me that soon I will be dead
Expressing fear of mortality and impending death
Soon I will take in my last breath
Acknowledging the inevitability of death
As I prepare to go meet death
Mentally preparing to face death
As I prepare to go and die I will admit I am terrified
Admitting to the fear of facing death
To board the ride without a tour guide
Metaphorically facing death without guidance
A Bonnie with no Clyde a groom with no bride
Feeling incomplete and unpaired in facing death
Or a tomb to consume all of the doom that hope died
Symbolizing the sense of hopelessness in death
I pray for the future of my kids
Expressing concern for the well-being of children
And hope they don't fuck up like I did
Wishing for a better future for the next generation
My way off the block without getting shot
Trying to avoid danger and conflict in life
So I feel like Jesus with the Romans
Feeling sacrificial and mistreated, like Jesus with the Romans
What would Jesus do in your present state of mind
Appealing to moral and ethical considerations
I need to pick up the pad and pen and write the words down again
Emphasizing the importance of expression and reflection
Where you and your kin are drowning in sin
Noting the prevalence of sin and moral failings
And then find a sound that we could drown within
Seeking solace in music and creativity
So positively the positivity
Emphasizing the importance of positive energy
The never-ending struggle of the Gemini
Reflecting on internal conflicts and dualities
To stand up to all this negativity
Challenging negative influences and attitudes
As it wears a disguise which is no surprise
Recognizing the deceptive nature of evil
But I am only one out of 8 billion
Feeling insignificant in a vast world population
So as I spit these rhymes I am guilty of some crime
Acknowledging personal shortcomings and wrongdoings
And all these voices in my head keep telling me that I am dead
Struggling with thoughts of mortality and finality
But I got so much to say that is still unsaid
Feeling a need to express oneself fully
Please take a pause and think before you shoot
Urging caution and critical thinking
I know too much and the powers that be
Feeling constrained by external forces and knowledge
The powers that be will never let me
Recognizing the influence of authority and control
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: KEVIN BRUMMETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
d1ablo818
rare video thx for the upload!